How long can you take to file a workers compensation claim?

Workplace accidents are common in New York. They can cause serious and permanent injuries to workers that involved in these accidents. The first thing that many workers do after a workplace accident is seek medical attention. This is important so that the worker can ensure that the person’s physical injuries are repaired. Seeking medical help can be lifesaving in those first few moments after a workplace accident.

Seeking legal help should be a worker’s next step. Workers who are injured on the job will need compensation to cover the costs of the injuries. In many situations, workers’ compensation is available to pay for the lost wages, medical expenses and rehabilitation costs associated with the injuries.

After a workplace accident, you may be so focused on your physical recovery that you don’t think about how you are going to deal with the financial aspects of the accident. In other cases, you may not have been physically well enough to take steps to get the benefits you need. However, in general, you need to act fast in order to receive your workers’ compensation benefits.

While this blog post cannot give specific legal advice, under New York law, employees will only qualify for workers’ compensation if they give their employers written notice of the injury within 30 days of the accident. Furthermore, workers must file an application for workers’ compensation to the Workers’ Compensation Board within two years of the accident or incident that caused the injury.

Since every case is unique and exceptions exist to these rules, workers who are injured on the job may need the assistance of a qualified attorney to understand when they should apply for workers’ compensation benefits.